Wakefield River Catchment Action Plan Introduction The Wakefield Catchment Action Plan (CAP) draws together information and feedback from a wide range of community members and summarises the most important features of the catchment and the issues that we face in managing them. This summary will be used to inform the strategic direction of Natural Resources Management (NRM) in the catchment and align with other planning and natural resource management actions occurring across the Northern and Yorke region. In the decade since the previous report, there has been a substantial shift in community knowledge, expectations and attitudes towards environmental and natural resources management issues. Natural Resources Northern and Yorke has worked with the community, natural resource management experts, scientists, government agencies, local government and non-government organisations to develop this plan and capture these changing attitudes. This collaboration has helped to ensure that the CAP reflects the priorities of a wide range of community and stakeholders, including investors such as the South Australian and Australian Governments. The CAP is not intended to encompass every possible issue or action, but to identify the high priority actions without which some of our most important assets will collapse. The Wakefield River CAP provides a strategic way forward – a plan of action – for the community who will be managing the Catchment’s natural resources over the next ten years. The Wakefield catchment The Wakefield catchment is in the Mid North region of South Australia, approximately 100 kilometres north of Adelaide and covers around 690 square kilometres. The Wakefield River is one of the three main ephemeral rivers in the Mid North and the catchment is flanked by the catchments of the Broughton River to the north and Light River to the south. The Wakefield River originates near Manoora and flows westerly towards Mintaro before diverting in a southerly direction through Auburn before turning west to flow through Balaklava and into the Port Wakefield estuary. Its major tributaries are the Eyre, Skillogalee, Pine, Rices, Hermitage and Woolshed Flat Creeks. The most intensive use of groundwater and surface water resources is in the Clare Valley for viticulture. Outside of the Clare Valley water is mainly used for stock and domestic purposes. The catchment is an ephemeral system characterised by irregular flows and long dry intermediate periods. Rainfall in the Wakefield catchment is heavily influenced by topography. The elevation ranges from sea level to approximately 600 m above sea level in the upper catchment. East of Halbury, the northern Mount Lofty Ranges are the dominant topographic feature and form a series of north-south ridgelines. Mt Horrocks, at 610 m is the highest point in the catchment and defines the headwaters for the Skillogalee and Eyre Creeks. In the coastal flats from Port Wakefield to Balaklava the average annual rainfall is approximately 300 mm. Eastwards from these plains the rainfall increases to 660 mm around Watervale, a region of higher elevation and rainfall that supplies most of the water to the river. Most of the Wakefield catchment has undergone significant vegetation change since agricultural development. Mallee scrub has been extensively cleared on the coastal and inland plains, as has grassy woodland and grassland vegetation in the ranges. Rabbits, weeds, woodcutting and grazing have degraded remnant native vegetation, particularly the understorey and annual grasses and weeds have replaced most understorey species. Five types of native watercourse vegetation have been identified in the catchment: riverine forests and woodlands; riverine shrublands; sedgelands; samphire marshes; and submerged aquatic vegetation. Edited by: Jennifer Munro, Water Officer, Natural Resources Northern and Yorke, 2017. Photo credits: J Munro, NRNY, PIRSA The Wakefield catchment is divided into eight sub-catchments Your say More than 160 participants provided feedback on watercourse management issues and objectives through a survey (Appendix A) posted to landholders and discussed at community workshops and meetings across the catchment. River red gums, good agricultural soil, permanent springs and waterbirds were ranked by the community as the highest priority assets for watercourses across the catchment. The community identified the main concerns as weeds; declining river flow; drying up of spring; and reduction of water table and pool levels. Wild artichoke, boxthorn, onion weed, horehound and silverleaf nightshade were the highest priority weeds. Not surprisingly, weed control was considered the most important watercourse management objective, followed by protecting remnant vegetation; improving/maintaining areas of good native vegetation; protecting important riverine habitat; and enhancing the natural qualities and characteristics of the river system. The main barriers to managing these watercourse issues were rated by survey respondents and included lack of people to undertake works, lack of funds to address watercourse management issues; outside impacts, including upstream management impacting on downstream health; and lack of time to address watercourse management. The watercourse management priorities and issues of each individual sub-catchment are presented in the following chapters and will inform the development of the new Northern and Yorke Strategic Plan, currently underway. Permanent springs are an important part of the Wakefield Catchment Upper Wakefield River sub-catchment – our natural resources and management priorities The Upper Wakefield River sub-catchment (144.2 km2) is at the top of the Wakefield catchment. Cropping and grazing are the dominant land uses within the sub-catchment, with viticulture along the Wakefield River below its confluence with Honeysuckle Creek. The section of the Wakefield River above its confluence with Wookie Creek has a ‘chain of ponds’ morphology. There is typically a series of well vegetated permanent pools that are connected by small channels. The Wakefield River, Wookie Creek, Kadlunga Creek and Honeysuckle Creeks are the main watercourses that drain the sub-catchment. Natural assets identified for protection in the Upper Wakefield River sub-catchment Sub-catchment assets have been identified through the last decade, since the initial River Management Plan for the Wakefield Catchment in 2000 and include the Wakefield River at Auburn and the Kadlunga Creek at Mintaro and Mt Horrocks. Auburn is an important asset to the Upper Wakefield River sub-catchment Mt Horrocks is an important asset in the Upper Wakefield River sub-catchment. Upper Wakefield RIver Very Key asset Indicator Poor Fair Good good Auburn Vegetation condition X Mintaro Vegetation condition X Mt Horrocks Vegetation condition X Since 2014, surveys have provided more detail on what the community valued in the sub-catchments and what threats they saw to our natural resources. Good agricultural soil, river red gums and permanent springs were seen as the highest priority assets in the sub-catchment. Pollution from septic tanks, poor water quality and salinity were identified as the biggest threats to watercourses by the community, along with nutrient concentrations in water and pollution from farm chemicals. Wild artichoke, fennel, onion weed and boxthorn were identified as the most problematic weeds threatening watercourses. Other weeds not listed in the survey that were identified as a high priority were Phalaris, hawthorn, elm and Scotch thistle. Community members were also given the chance to rate activities they thought would most help to manage rivers and creeks in the sub-catchment as well as the barriers that might prevent good management. Weed control, protecting remnant vegetation and allowing natural regeneration were the highest community priorities for managing river systems in the sub-catchment. Lack of people to undertake works, lack of funds to address watercourse management issues and lack of time to address watercourse management were seen as the biggest barriers to effective management of watercourses in the Upper Wakefield sub-catchment. What’s next You can still contribute to our research by completing the survey (closes June 30 2017) or providing comment on our findings to [email protected]. We’ve had more than 160 participants so far and would like your support to get as much feedback as possible from the people who live, work and play in the area. Your feedback will now be used to develop a new strategic plan for the Northern and Yorke region. For more information about water resource management in your catchment contact: Natural Resources Centre – Clare 155 Main North Rd, Clare SA 5453 Email: [email protected] Ph: (08) 8841 3400 Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Eyre Creek sub-catchment – our natural resources and management priorities The Eyre Creek sub-catchment (35.1 km2) arises in the foothills of Mt Horrocks and flows in a southerly direction through the town of Watervale, joining the main channel of the Wakefield River just north of Auburn. Eyre Creek is an ephemeral stream with several small permanent pools that are groundwater dependent. Grazing, viticulture and rural-residential blocks are the main land uses in the catchment. Eyre Creek is the main watercourse in the Eyre Creek sub-catchment. Natural assets identified for protection in the Eyre Creek sub-catchment Sub-catchment assets have been identified through the last decade, since the initial River Management Plan